Venice Film Festival 2026: Murdoch Biopic Opens, Star-Studded Competition Lineup Announced

The Venice Film Festival has officially unveiled its highly anticipated 2026 lineup, with Danny Boyle’s Rupert Murdoch biopic ‘Ink’ set to open the festival on September 2. The film stars Jack O’Connell as The Sun editor Larry Lamb and Guy Pearce as Murdoch, with Claire Foy co-starring. The festival closes with Giovanni Veronesi’s ‘Dio ride’, screening out of competition.

Festival director Alberto Barbera presented the competition slate at a press conference on Thursday, highlighting a strong return of international auteurs. South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-Dong returns with ‘Possible Love’, his first feature since 2018’s ‘Burning’. Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda brings ‘Look Back’, his second festival title of 2026. Martin McDonagh premieres ‘Wild Horse Nine’, his first film since ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’. Casey Affleck’s directorial ‘Company’, a gothic horror starring Nick Nolte, also competes.

Out of competition, Paul Schrader screens ‘The Basics of Philosophy’ starring Jack Huston and Sofia Boutella. Luca Guadagnino presents a seven-hour Bernardo Bertolucci documentary ‘Joie De Vivre’. Wim Wenders offers a doc on architect Peter Zumthor. George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn will receive the Golden Lion for lifetime achievement. Maggie Gyllenhaal heads the competition jury.

The full lineup spans competition, Orizzonti, and out-of-competition sections, promising a rich cinematic experience for the Lido audience.

Article and image source: argentinastar.com